After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

Although Li Sikong was over sixty years old, with a head full of white hair and frost-white eyebrows, his eyes were still clear. He looked at Pei Jiaoran quietly, his eyes like a sharp blade.

Although Su Chuo was just an insignificant character, his provocation to Li Xiujing undoubtedly gave his family an appropriate and suitable opportunity. Using this opportunity, he opened a gap in the Shen Ce Army system and eliminated the restless people. It also provided great help to the future of the Li family.

Such an exchange of interests was also a very cost-effective deal for Pei Jiaoran herself. As an important official in the Southern Court, she could not directly manage the imperial guards under the emperor's command, but as long as Li Xiujing was in the Shen Ce Army, the Shen Ce Army, which was controlled by the eunuchs, would pose less of a threat to her.

More importantly, although the Li family did not make a direct statement, in the eyes of many people, the two are already on the same boat, and they will prosper together and suffer together.

Li Sikong raised his lips and smiled slightly, and readily agreed.

Pei Jiaoran raised his eyes to meet Li Sikong's gaze, and the two smiled at each other.

They reached a consensus, and Pei Jiaoran said, "I will arrange for someone to report Su Chao. Let's get him involved first. Even if he makes a move, it won't cause any trouble."

"It's up to you. I'll keep an eye on the Su family." Glancing at the sky outside the window, Li Sikong said, "Stay for dinner later."

Li Sikong agreed quite readily, and Pei Jiaoran also had a gentle look on his face.

By the time the two had finalized their plan, Lady Changsun had sent people to urge them to finish their work several times. It was not until dusk that the two of them left the study room one after the other.

Sitting obediently beside Lady Changsun, Pei Jiaoran looked up at Li Sikong, who was listening to the lecture with his head bowed, and couldn't help curling his lips. It seemed that the Li family was henpecked, and it was passed down from father to son.

While he was thinking, the dishes in the bowl had already piled up like a mountain. Frowning at the bowl in front of him, Pei Jiaoran hurriedly stopped Mrs. Changsun.

Frowning, Madam Changsun said, "The affairs of the Secretariat are very busy, Jiajia, you should eat more. Tomorrow, I will make you a bowl of soup to replenish your energy and calm your nerves, and send it to your home."

Seeing that Lady Changsun was showing an expression that she would not be rejected, Pei Jiaoran took a deep breath and nodded.

After dinner, Pei Jiaoran chatted with Lady Changsun for a while. Pei Jiaoran said goodbye to Lady Changsun on the pretext that he had some unfinished business.

After leaving Li's house, the chilly autumn wind blew on her face. Pei Jiaoran pulled her clothes tightly together and walked towards her own house. The house was still cold and quiet.

Pei Jiaoran lit the lamp skillfully and stood quietly in front of the candlestick. She looked at the candlestick for a while and laughed. She had a vague feeling that Jia Gonglu might have a quarrel with Zhang Rang today.

Pei Jiaoran tapped the table with his fingers and suddenly raised his hand to gently pinch his brows. As expected, thinking too much can easily cause headaches.

A good night's sleep.

As autumn arrives, the sun rises late. When the drums sound, the sky is still pitch black.

The cool breeze rushed in after she opened the window. Pei Jiaoran stood with her hands behind her back, looking at the cold moon in the sky. She didn't leave the window until the last drum sounded. She took out a fox fur coat from the closet and walked out slowly.

Even if it wasn't raining, snowing, or muddy, the court still had to go to court. On the road, I saw many court officials walking against the wind.

Pei Jiaoran saw Li Jing coming against the wind from the corner of his eye, so he reined in his horse and dismounted, "Li Buque."

"Mr. Pei." Li Jing stopped and bowed.

Pei Jiaoran looked at Li Jing and saw that his fingers were red. He said gently, "You have been fined half a year's salary, and renting a house in Chang'an is not cheap. I promoted you, so you should take good care of yourself. I will have someone send you a hundred strings of cash later."

As soon as the words fell from his ears, Li Jing waved his hand and said, "I still have some savings."

"You should save your savings to pay for the rent." Pei Jiaoran smiled, "You may even have to hire someone to protect your safety."

Listening to Pei Jiaoran's words, Li Jing bowed his head. He had actually encountered danger on his way home yesterday, but fortunately the defense tower assigned to him by Pei Jiaoran saved his life.

After thinking for a moment, Li Jing said in a deep voice: "With your advice to me, I should be safe."

Hearing this, Pei Jiaoran said nothing more, and led the horse with Li Jing to the Vermillion Bird Gate. Just like yesterday, Li Jing today was praised by many people along the way.

Until the Suzaku Gate opened and the court officials filed in, many people were still discussing Li Jing's behavior yesterday.

Seeing Li Jing walking towards the Imperial Censorate, the Minister of Personnel came forward to talk to Pei Jiaoran, "Mr. Pei, this Li Jing is not a simple person. He might even bring down the sky in the future."

"I promoted Li Jing myself. Even if something happens in the future, it will implicate me." Pei Jiaoran relaxed his brows. "I understand what Cui Situ is worried about. Tell him not to worry."

Seeing that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was in front of him, the Minister of Personnel stopped talking immediately and bowed to the Ministry of Shangshu.

After handling the daily affairs of the Secretariat and other provinces in the public house, Pei Jiaoran set out for the Council of State Affairs.

The doors and windows of the government hall were tightly shut. The bleak autumn wind could not get in, and the smell inside could not get out either.

Entering the government hall, Pei Jiaoran frowned slightly, looked around at everyone, and chose a seat near the door to sit down.

Seeing her like this, Jia Gonglu laughed and said, "Mr. Pei is young and thinks we all look old."

Hearing this, Pei Jiaoran smiled but said nothing.

At this moment, all the ministers in the government hall gathered together.

Jia Gonglu looked at Pei Jiaoran with a serious and meaningful expression.

"Your Majesty has privately instructed me. He is afraid that Li Jing may not be able to conduct a thorough investigation of this matter, so he asks you gentlemen to recommend another person."

As Jia Gonglu's voice fell, the room fell into silence in an instant.

The people they wanted to check were from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Even though Bai He was only a fifth-rank official, they had to recommend someone with strong abilities if they wanted to avoid being constrained.

But they also saw the situation in the court yesterday.

The head of the Ministry of Personnel and the deputy of the Ministry of Central Affairs directly avoided the Political Affairs Hall. They tacitly allowed Li Jing to submit a memorial to the emperor, which showed that they wanted to promote him. Especially Pei Jiaoran's words clearly showed his protection.

Unless they can recommend someone more capable than Li Jing, it would be a waste of their own people.

Cen Xi raised his eyelids and sighed, "Alas, when the weather gets cold, my old illness comes back. My waist and legs ache. If it gets colder, I'm afraid I'll have to ask for leave from Your Majesty." As he spoke, Cen Xi held his waist with one hand and tapped his knee with the other. He seemed to want to not get involved in this matter.

Su Jinghui glanced at Pei Jiaoran and said, "Li Jing is just a minor official. In my opinion, it would be better to let Yuwen Pushe supervise this matter together."

Yuwen Jie, who was suddenly called, hurriedly shook his head and said, "The affairs of the Shangshu Province are complicated and I am afraid I am not qualified for it. In my opinion, it is better to let Pei Xianggong come."

"I and Li Jing both belong to the Secretariat. If I am chosen, I am afraid I will not be able to take on the role. Yuwen Pushe's words really make it difficult for me to do this."